Lithuania's national security: Financial threats disappeared, energy threats emerged

"Just as the State Security Department, the Second Investigation Department has presented an annual evaluation of threats. These are threats to national security that Lithuania as a state is facing. They presented their conclusions, outlook, analysis," Anušauskas said, refusing to elaborate on what was discussed at the meeting. He offered, however, his personal evaluation of threats to national security.

"I would say the nature of threats has changed in recent years. If, for example, several years ago, there were certain threats to financial stability, I mean the situation of Lithuania as a state, when talks about the litas and its stability started, now certain threats have disappeared. They have changed from red to green," Anušauskas said.

But, he added, threats, especially political, to the country's energy security remain.

"Threats are emerging due to various political circumstances, due to perhaps active participation or pressure from the outside, the implementation of certain projects is stalled or stooped. These are real threats. In this case, decisions by the government and the Seimas have to be adequate for the situation, i.e., these strategic projects should be implemented," Anušauskas said.

"In late November, if I am not mistaken, Russian army officers called energy projects being implemented in the European Union as a threat to Russia's national security. I believe that Russia has the right to evaluate its own threats, but I would like to stress that Lithuania also has the right to take measures to reduce these threats. In this case, I have in mind measures aimed at strengthening energy security and implementation of strategic projects," the chairman of the Committee on National Security and Defense said.

Talking about military threats to national security, he said that recent NATO decisions have improved the situation.

"The situation is being monitored. Military activity or our neighboring countries is being monitored. But Lithuania has received decisions in recent years, necessary for our national security. I have in mind the defense plans and NATO's decisions on the long-term extension of the air policing mission. Decisions necessary for our national security have also been made," Anušauskas said.